440 



LARGE WIGWAM BIRCH FUNGUS. May 1830. 



to be mischievous, than the western race: their language sounded 

 similar to that of the natives whom we saw in Orange Bay. We 

 found a very large wigwam, built in a substantial manner, and 

 a much better place to live in than many of the huts which are 

 called houses in Childe. I think twenty men might have stood 

 upright in it, in a circle ; but, probably, of these Fuegians, it 

 would house thirty or forty in the cold weather. 



" While our men were making a fire and cooking, I walked 

 into the wood, but found it bore little resemblance to that 

 which our eyes had lately been accustomed to. The trees were 

 mostly birch, but grew tall and straight. The ground was dry 

 and covered with withered leaves, which crackled as I walked ; 

 whereas, in other parts where we had lately passed our time, 

 the splashing sound of wet, marshy soil had always attended 

 our footsteps, when not on rock. These Fuegians appeared 

 to think the excrescences which grow on the birch trees, like 

 the gall-nuts on an oak, an estimable dainty. They offered us 

 several, some as large as an apple, and seemed surprised at our 

 refusal. Most of them had a small piece of guanaco, or seal- 

 skin, on their shoulders or bodies, but not enough for warmth : 

 perhaps they did not willingly approach strangers with their 

 visual skin dress about them, their first impulse, on seeing us, 

 being to hide it. Several, whom I surprised at their wigwams, 

 had large skins round their bodies, which they concealed 

 directly they saw me. Fish and the birch fungus must be their 

 chief food, for shell-fish are scarce and small ; but they catch 

 an abundance of excellent rock-fish, smelt, and what might be 

 called a yellow mullet. Guanaco meat may occasionally be 

 obtained by them, but not in sufficient quantity to be depended 

 upon as an article of daily subsistence. 



" Leaving the natives, we sailed across towards the western 

 arm of the long channel, and continued making our way west- 

 ward, with oar and sail, until dusk, when we landed, unper- 

 ceived, as we thought, and established ourselves for the night. 

 Just as we had moored the boat, kindled a fire, and pitched 

 our tent, a canoe came into the cove ; another and another 

 followed, until we were surrounded with natives. Knowing 



